Restoring heathlands after afforestation on two islands in western Norway

(Publisert i Nordic Journal of Botany, 2023)

The ongoing loss of red-listed coastal heathlands is a threat to biodiversity and cultural heritage legacies throughout the Atlantic coastal regions of Europe.  We assess the efficiency of restoring coastal heathlands through natural succession  after removal of Sitka spruce plantations. The study was replicated on two neighbouring islands in a nature reserve in Western Norway. Low-intensity free-range sheep grazing was implemented as part of the reserve  management  plan.  Furthermore,  we  tested  the effect  of  leaving  the  clear-felled  woody material as chips on site, this being a cost-efficient strategy on islands. 
Surprisingly,  we  found  different successional trajectories on the two islands. Species composition on one island approached target heathland vegetation during succession, but not on the other. Wood chips  reduced  species  richness  and  slowed  the  restoration  process,  but  these  negative  effects were only short-term. We  also  found  that  management  actions  beyond  clear-felling  and  introducing  sheep grazing are necessary due to the rapid seed regeneration of the Sitka spruce.

Les artikkelen her: NLA Brage: Restoring heathlands after afforestation on two islands in western Norway (unit.no)